We polled bartenders and, overwhelmingly, they say their favorite glassware right now is the coupe, coupette, or Nick and Nora-style glass—a similar glass, but with a more oblong cup.
“The vintage coupe with modern design gives the cocktail a touch of history and mystery,” says Bruno Molfetta, bar manager and partner at Bar 314 in New York City. This stemmed treasure harkens back to the glitz and glamour of times past and offers an elegant and tight presentation—that doesn’t require the much-debated straw (see more of that here). Bar professionals say this glassware style is perfect for a reinvention of a classic cocktail or straight concoctions that don’t involve much sugar or juice.
Click through for a roundup of some of our favorite coupes on the market right now.
Volume: 8.3 ounces Designed by bar professional Stephan Hinz, Perfect Serve Collection offers a specialty cut decoration that uniquely refracts light, along with a durable weight and balance size for optimal restaurant use. The brand is a favorite of both Ana-Maria Gherghely, the general manager at Bobby’s Deerfield in Deerfield, Illinois, and Ben Rouse, bar lead at Henley in Nashville, Tennessee. They note Spiegelau’s dependable quality, value, and aesthetic as selling points. spiegelau.com
Volume: 3.75 ounces Available with a gold rim as pictured, with a silver rim, or without a rim at all, these tiny tasting coupes are fun and elegant, especially as educational tastings, paired tastings, and flight options trend more on full-service beverage menus. LEOPOLD coupes are also available in 6-ounce and 7.5-ounce varieties. cocktailkingdom.com
Volume: 10.25 ounces This Italian coupe is made with Luigi Bormioli’s SON.hyx formula, which helps the product stand up to the demand of professional use. It’s break-resistant and claims to remain as ultra-clear after 4,000 wash cycles as the day it is taken out of the box. shop.luigibormioli.com
Volume: 8 ounces This sleek, unadorned coupe glass from Reidel is machine-made for a consistent, yet charming look. The brand is a favorite of Sean Stangle, bartender at Estiatorio Milos in Las Vegas, who prefers stemmed glassware so the warmth of one’s hand won’t influence the temperature of the cocktail. “Riedel is a higher-end product (with a price tag to match), but features every type of glass you’ll find yourself looking for—for any occasion,” Stangle says. riedel.com
Volume: 8.25 ounces With a stem that screams vintage, this coupe heightens the prohibition-era look bartenders are after, and the brand is a favorite of Rouse of Henley for its value. foodservice.libbey.com
